Markley Enterprise, Inc., of Elkhart, Indiana, USA, is the first company in the world to upgrade its PressVu UV 200/600 to the new white ink capabilities of the PressVu 200/600 W+. The ability to print white has enabled Markley, a specialist in sales and marketing support products, to further expand its range of viable applications, streamline its production and explore new markets. Tim Markley, President and CEO comments, ‘The introduction of our PressVu UV 200/600 W+ upgrade means that for us, the 200/600 can reach its full potential. The white ink capability enables us to eliminate most of our original screen printing equipment. Four-color process silkscreen printing is not an easy procedure, and quality can be difficult to maintain. By utilizing our PressVu UV 200/600 W+, we can ensure a high consistency of print quality, while also saving considerable time and money.’ ‘It is impossible to put a price on the versatility of the PressVu UV 200/600 W+, as the possibilities of what we can now do for our customers is virtually unlimited. The original PressVu UV 200/600 installation was a big step forward for the company, and our new white ink capability is another major advancement. We can now address all of our customers’ needs with one reliable, consistent and productive machine. This gives us the confidence to expand into new markets.’ The PressVu UV 200/600 W+ can print up to 80 inches (2-meters) wide at up to 350 square feet per hour (33 square meters per hour), and prints on rigid materials up to 1.75 inches (4.45 centimeters) thick. In addition, the PressVu UV 200/600 W+ allows customers to print white images and text directly on unusual surfaces like wood and glass, and on colored stock. Through the VUTEk PressVu UV 200/600 W+’s digital process, the time and expense of finishing steps such as mounting and laminating can be eliminated, enabling companies like Markley to enjoy faster through-put and increased revenue. Tim continues, ‘By being able to print direct to end media, we have been able to reduce substrate mounting costs by over 80% - this is a significant saving. With the use of our PressVu UV 200/600 W+, we can print on-demand and offer fully customizable products, ideal for direct marketing materials. Although image quality from our existing PressVu UV 200/600 was the best on the market, we felt that the added white ink capability would enhance our solutions for customers.’ An example of Markley’s new white ink capabilities can be seen in a job produced for Mack Trucks, one of the leading heavy truck manufacturers in the USA. For this job, Markley produced over 100 4ft x 1ft, bulldog logo signs, displayed in Mack Truck dealerships throughout America. Through the use of its new PressVu UV 200/600 W+, Markley was able to provide a quicker service, while increasing print quality. Tim states, ‘We previously used white 6mm Sintra for the Mack Truck logo signs. The logo accounts for only about 10% of the actual surface area, with the rest needing a black background color. As a result, we wasted a lot of ink and time spent printing. ‘With our new PressVu UV 200/600 W+, we can now print white onto black Sintra, and therefore only need to print the logo area and not any of the background, significantly reducing the printed surface area while providing a superior product to the customer. This ability has reduced the possibility of scratching, increasing the durability of each graphic while also saving us time and money.’ The success of the Mack Truck graphics has provided Markley with a powerful case study for its new capabilities, enabling it to seek work from new markets including furniture, giftware, exterior signage, digital wallpaper and various other interior design applications. Tim states that his staff is coming up with new applications almost on a daily basis. Tim comments on its decision to upgrade to the PressVU UV 200/600 W+, ‘We had heard that VUTEk was working on a white option for the PressVu UV, which fired our imaginations and really got us excited. After seeing samples of its high quality output printed direct to colored substrates, we realized that together with its productivity benefits, we should upgrade.’ Markley Enterprise, Inc., was established in 1961, and currently employs 80 people. It designs, manufactures and distributes sample cases and display products, vacuum forming, screen printing, radio frequency sealing, portable sales materials for exhibitions and sales presentations, banners, pop-up panel systems, banner stands and large format graphics for a variety of markets. Tim concludes, ‘In our long-term business plan, our PressVu UV 200/600 W+ plays a big part. In terms of new markets, for 2005, we have set a target income for non-market printing of $1 million dollars. Thanks to our PressVu UV 200/600 W+’s superior print quality and productivity benefits, we are well on the way to accomplishing this goal.’